Flexible rule



FLEXIBLE RULE.. APPLLcATl'orL FILED D-Ec.. 191e. R'ENEwED LAN. 14.1918.

Patented Aug; 19,191.9.

'me coLuMlxLA PLANOGRAPH c5. WASHINGTON, n. c.

AXEL n. HEGARDT, .oFiPHmADELPnIaI PENNSYLVANIA:

F'LEXIBLE RULE.

i Specicatkien bf Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1e,-1'919.

Tall-zukommt mayftonceoni' Be: it" known that 1I; AX'ELH Hnenmib; acitizen'fofthe United 'States, residing at? Philadelphia, nin the county'of IPhiladelphifafl and Statef of 1 Pennsylvania', 'havef' inventedcertain new and usefull' impro'vements in@A F lexiblelulesyofwhichfthefoll'ew:iii-1g:r is ai specification.` i

My inve1'ition"consist`s of" an! improveelr` flexible rule.` Oneobjectofinydnlventi'onf to provide rule of-t thef"albo'vedescribedA type `whiclrf may bey freely4 and accurately? bent "to 1 conform toV any' 'de'sired"curve Another -object of lmy'finyentionis `top-ro# f videmeans' 'forholdingtthe rule-in itsb'entcondition' sol that .it can 'befhandledfwhile infsa'id bent position;

Another-'object of my 'inv'entionf is'toin'-v clude-1in my 'improved lrule, a. number of elongated Ymembers made oft resilient materialandwhich when-in their `normal' state," are st-1`1aigl`1t,so that if theyare bent into f a' curve l"asfabove ,described, they` will' auto#maiti'ca'lly `return` to their normali '-positions' when'releaisedbysaid holding means;l

A further object is 'to'pfrovide mylim' proved flrule with one' or 'lmore fsmeoth outer V' edges which may be used as ruling edges'bydraftsmenl for fothers 'whoa use my improved ruleas` adrawinginstrument. l

These objects, and other `adv'antageous ends whi-ch 'will beV describedhereinafter,` ll arttain in the following: manner', referencev` beine'had to the accompanyingdrawings" in"l whic 1-` Fi'gure'l is a'toplv planviewofmy imi proved flexible rule.

Fig;l 2 is an. enlarged "transverse 'section' on the'line12-'-2 of Fig.1.'

Figti' is an enlarged transverse sec'tion'on*l the line 3-3 of Figdl` .YFig'.| l Lis an enlarged'transversesectionE ta'ken'fon the line als-1 ofFigfl. f

Fig. f' `5 is an enlarged fragmentary I topf plan'uview of one end oftherule shownin FiO'. 1;@ v

Fig; 6 :is a :fragment of 'the' irule shown? in Fig; 1 Yshowing. the'=saine bent tof-form" a '1 curveu Fig. 7 is al fragmentary perspectiveviefwr,

vious figures.

of onevof the elements rdisclosedin 'said pre# Fig. 8\is"a topplanfiviewpartlybroken# "for a `away showing a"ino'diiiedfornrof niy^irn`L A i Fig.4 9" is an enlarged?- transverse-section -taken' onthe llne 9 j Fig.10 isjanffenlarged transversesection'A pro-ved rule.

taken on 'theline lOl-@10 'of Figf 8.'

Fig.' 11 isan enlargedtransverse'` section rtaken 'onthe linell-llof-Fig`.8. f n

Fig.' 12' is'a top `plan view partly broken 'l away showing another formof Vmy inven# tion.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on 'the line `13'-13'o`fFig. 123."

Fig. 14k is a transverse vsectional view taken on the! line 14e-1410i:`Fig.*12,'fand View taken on theline 15-15'of Fig.'12.`

Fig. l5 is an enlarged transversesectional` Referringto Figs'. lto 7incli'1s'ive,'my`A improved? rule includes three elongated' mem# bers l,2, and 3.

throughout the greater 'portion" of` their' length include continuousstrips 4 and 5,' the outer surfaces 6 and 7 thereof being The Inembers'v l and 2 smooth and capable 'of bein'gused as ruling surfaces ina manner hereinafter described.' y

Each of the 'strips/"21 and '5 has projecting inwardly, a serieso'flug's Sand 9 respectively. Thelugs ofeachfseries arespaced apart i toprovideV spaces 10 and 11 respectively.

more fully Fiirthermore, the lugs 8 areso positioned i as to be directlyand centrally oppositethe" spaces 11 between 'the lugs 9 and vice versathe lugs 9 aredirectly and ycentrally opposite 'the spaceslO'between thelugsS, these" -posit1ons being attained when the' strips 4:

and 5 are' in`their straight positionas shown in Figs. `l and 5.

l The lugs 8 and 9 at their 'innerI surfaces 7 have undercutordove-tailed recesses'v 12 'and 13 respectively 4which form slide-waysfor twoseries of dove-tailed tongues 14 and l5 which project outwardlyfrom'opposite surfaces of the centrally extendingfmember 3.

These tongues 14 and 15 are oppositely dis 'posed and are of greaterwidth than the spaces 10 and 11 between the lugs 8 and 9 scribed.

made kof Celluloid, hard rubber, yor other purpose' hereinafter "morefully denk straight position shown in Fig. 1, will auto* maticallyspring back into said straight position when released while in said bentposition.

The member 3 is preferably made comparatively thin, and has its`opposite. faces Hat and in sliding engagement with the innermostsurfaces ofthe lugs 8. The members 1, 2, and 3, at one end of the rule,are secured against relative longitudinal movement by means of atransversely extending pin 16 (see Figs. 1 and 5). The other portions ofsaid members 1, 2, and 3, may normally slide relatively to eachotherwhen' the rule is bent and during this relative sliding movement, itwill be noted that the tongues 14:' and 15 will slide within therecesses 12 and 13 and across the spaces 10 and 11, but as hereinbeforestated, the width ofthe tongues 14 and 15 is greater than the width ofsaid spaces, hence eachtongue will always have a portion of its lengthwithin one of the recesses 12 or 13 even though it moves fromv asillustratedin Fig. 1, extends through the 4 solid end portion 18 of themember 2 and has a thumb nut 19 which is designed to' bear Vupon awasher 20, the latter extending across the parting between the members 2and 3 so as to frictionally engage said latter members and lock themtogether when the thumb nut 19 istightened. l

In Fig. 1, I have also shown a clamping screw 21 which extends .throughone of the lugs 9 (see Figs. 1 and 3) and this clamping screw has athumb nut 22 thereon which engages a washer 23 of similar constructionto the washer 20 which is designed to clamp the central member 3 to themember 2.

It will thus be understood that when. either of the thumb nuts 19 and 221s loosel on its screw, the rule may be bent into ay curve. However, ifthe rule is thus bent, and the thumb nuts 19 and 22 are tightened,

it will be impossible for the members 1, 2,

and 3, to spring back into their normal straight position. Thus theseveral parts will be held in their curved positions,v such for exampleas shown in Fig. 6.

For convenience to the user, the strip l is graduated into inches andfractional parts of inches, and thus by my improved rule the length ofany curve ma be determined merely by setting the 'r e to the propercurve and then reading the length of the curve on the graduated edge.

It willA be noted that 4any number of clamping screws such for exampleas 17 and 21 may be employed or only one may be used if sodesired,"'eitheronev of the screws above mentioned being eliminated.

' 'The lugs 8 and 9 are preferably beveled asI shown at 24: and 25, andthis beveling greatly facilitates the holding of the rule. Furthermore,the strips 4 and 5 are beveled. on their upper surfaces as. shown at 26and 27 which reduces thewidth of ythesurfa'ces when it is desired thatthe rule conform to a certain curve, so that my improved rule isextremely exible but is so constructed that it is strong and easilymanipulated.

InFigs. 8 to 11 inclusive, I have shown my improved rule including onlytwo elongated members 28 and 29. The member 29 is of similarconstruction to the member 2 above described in connection with Figs. 1

ber 28.

A transverse pin 33 extends through the members 28 and 29 adjacent oneend (see Figs. Sand 9), and prevents relative longitudlnal movementbetween said members 28 and 29 at one end of the rule. Adjacent theyopposite end, I provide a clamping screw 3land a thumb nut 35 whichengages a washer .36, the latter spanningthe parting between the.members 28 and 29 and frictionally engaglng the upper surfaces of saidtwo latter ltongues 32 on the inner surfacer of the -memv members, soYthat when the nut 35 is tightened, relative movement between saidmembers 28 and 29 is prevented.

It will be noted that the pressure exerted by the thumb nuts, both inconnection with.

Figs. 1 to 7 and Figs. 8 to 11, is sufficient to compress the materialto provide the necessary friction. While I have shown only oneclampingscrew and only one thumb nut on"r Fig. 8,*it will be noted that two ormore may be used as shown in connection with Fig. 1.. y

In Figs. v12 to`15 inclusive, I have shown another form of my inventionin which only two .longitudinally extending members 37 and 438` areemployed, thel member. 38 j in the present` instance being in the formof a resilient wire which extends throughout. thev length-ofI the member37 yas clearly shownin` j he member37 includes a series of lugs 39`whichare spaced apart in the sameinanner asy either of the series of lugs 8ork 9 above described, andextend` from anlout-rv ward ruling strip 40.The free ,endportions of the lugs 39 have under-cut recesses pro.`viding vdove-tailed slide-ways 41 throughr which the wire 38 .extends`andv relatively slides. One end of the wire is coiled around a pin 42aso as to prevent relative longitudi-v nal movement between `the wire 38and member 37 at one end, The Wire 38 passes througlrthe slide-ways41 inall of the lugs 39 land also through a dove-tailed.grooveA 43 in thehead 42 of the rule. Y

A clam ing screw 44 faulowery headed end 44a w ich is designed to engagethe under portion of the wire and clamp it in frictional contact withsaid head 42 as shown.y

gobers 1, 2, and 3, the members 1 and 2 having dove-tailed grooves 47and 48 respectively through which slide dove-tailed extensions 49 and 50which project laterally from the sides of the member 3 adjacent its freeslidingy end.

In the same manner, the head 46 in Fig. 8 comprises the free .slidingends of the members 28 and 29, the latter having a dovetailed recess 51through which slides a dovetailed extension 52 on the inner side 0f themember 28. Furthermore, it will be noted lthat the clamping screws andtheir coperative elements in addition to forming the frictional contactthrough the medium of the washers as above described, act to squeeze theportions providing the dove-tailed recesses into clamping engagementwith the dove-tailed tongues which slide therethrough and in someinstances I may dispense with the washers for example asshown in theconstruction of the nut 53 in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, but in any eventclamping means is provided to prevent relative movement between theslidable members when the rule is bent into a curved position.

While I have described my invention as taking a particulary form, itwill be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changedIWithout departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asl-newy andwdesire tosecure by Let-y ters Patent is:

1. A exible rule comprising elongated members slidable relatively toeach other, lugs extending laterally from certain ofsaid members andhaving their outer ends spaced apart and provided with dovetailedrecesses,

other of said members having dove-tailed tongues .spaced fapartand'slidable within said recesses, and clamping means designed to-compresstheportion-s which provide the dove-tailed recesses to bind thedove-tailed tongues therein,substantially as described.

2. A flexible rule. ,having three longitudif lnally extending members,two 4of said members `being spaced .apart by the other kmember, `said.two members including flexible strips and lugs extending laterally fromeach ofjsaid strips,- said; lugs having recesses in their `adjacentouter ends, .the other of said members being slidablebetween the firsttwo mentioned members and having tongues on opposite `sides slidablyfitting the respecl tive `recesses of each of said two members,

and clamping means for securig said members against longitudinalmovement, substantially `as described.

3. A iiexible rule having three longitudinally extending members, two ofsaid members including flexible strips and lugs extending laterally fromeach o-f said strips, said lugs having recesses in their adjacent outerends, the other of said members being slidable between the first twomentioned members and having tongues on opposite ksides slidablyIfitting said recesses, and

clamping'means designed to compress the portions which provide therecesses to bind the tongues within said recesses, substantially asdescribed.

4. A iiexible rule having three longitudinally extending members, two ofsaid members including flexible vstrips and lugs extending laterallyfrom each of said strips, said lugs having recesses `in their adjacentouter ends, the other of said members being slidable between the firsttwo mentioned members and having tongues on opposite sides slidablyfitting said recesses, and clamping means extending thro-ugh certain ofsaid lugs, said clamping means being designed to compress the recessedportions of said lugs to bind the tongues therein, substantially asdescribed.

5. A exible rule having three longitudinally extending members, two ofsaid members including resiliently flexible strips and lugs extendinglaterally from each of said strips, said lugs having recesses in theiradjacentouter ends, the other of said members being slidable between thefirst two mentioned members and having tongues on opposite sidesslidably fitting said recesses, and clamping means designed t0 compressthe .portions which provide the recesses to Wai-nd the tongues Withinsaid recesses, substan-l nalllfy' extending members, tWo of said membersincluding i'exibie str'fips, and lugs extendingl laterally from saidstrips', said lugshaving recesses in their 'outer ends, the other ofsaid memrber's Uoeing slilfznble between the rst two mentioned membersand having tongues 'slidwbly f fitting said recesses, said tongueslbeing oppositely disposed, the 'lfugs of one of 'said membersbeingopposite the spaces between the lugs of the other of said members'when Ithe rule -is iin 'its straight position, end yelfim'pin'g meansfior securing said members against ioniglitudina movement, substantiallyas desoribedl. l n 7. A flexible rule having three 'longitudinallyextending iilnembers, two of said mem- )bers ineluding flexible strips,:ml lugs eX- Gopi'e's lo! this patent "may VDe 'obtained lfor tendin'g'lateralyfrom .sai'dr strips, 'said' iilgs having recesses iin theirouter ends, the otherv of sa'zllmenrbersheing fsl'idfab'le between therst twol mentioned members end having tongues slidably fitting saidreeesses,` Seid tongnes being opposite/1y disposed, the-ings of one ofsaifd members being opposite 'the spaoesbetween the Elugs off thfe otherfof said' members when itherulf'e is in its straight position, saidtongues being of greater 'Width than -tfll-e Spaces "between sai'vllwigs, amd eimnping meansv for securing 'said members against'longitudinal movement, tsubstantia'jlly .as -escriom Intestimony-whereof I have signed name to this :specification in the4presence of two subserbiiig Witnesses. l o

AXEL E. HEGRDT. Witnesses:

RHODA E. Guzmjis,

